This wasn't the case. Spot was at the docks, but he wasn't alone. Upon further inspection, Fade's pressed her hand to her mouth, hiding a small gasp. He was with another girl, whom she even knew. "Brooky," Fade mumbled.

Pulling apart from the black-haired girl, Spot hurried to compose himself. "Fade! Whatcha doin' here?"

"Doesn't really matter now, does it?" she answered. She's caught him like this before on many occasions, but this time it sunk in deep. Spot wouldn't change – he wouldn't love her and only her. Fade couldn't pretend any longer that their relationship would ever be normal.

"Ya gotta be kiddin' me, Fade," Brooky snorted. "Ya know how Conlon here is, he ain't no one-girl man."

"Fade… I'm… I didn't mean to…" Spot stood, ignoring the perturbed girl he'd just been kissing.

Brooky's words cutting through her like a knife, Fade fought to keep the tears from her eyes. She knew this might have been the end of things, but she didn't want to actually acknowledge that fact. "You didn't mean to be an ass? It's a little late for that, Conlon. If I ever see you again, it'll be too soon."

"Fade, wait." Spot caught a glimpse of her eyes then, and the pain in them affected him in a way he'd never thought possible. This time he really was sorry.

"I've been waitin' for you to change for months. I ain't wastin' anymore of me precious time on you," she spat, her legs already carrying her halfway off the docks. "Goodbye Spot," she whispered to herself. "You ain't good enough for me."

****

"Jack? What… What are ya doing here?" David abruptly stood from his chair, knocking over his glass of water in the process.

"I-I, um, going to dinner?" he meekly answered. Jack hadn't felt this miserable since David had accosted him about turning into a scab.

Autumn stood there puzzled. These two seemed to be best friends when they had approached her the first time, and now David was nearly glaring in Jack's direction.

"I can see that, Jack," David stated wryly. The water dripping down the side of his table, David merely paid attention to the two figures standing before him. He knew Jack had no idea David would be dining here tonight, and although he wanted to believe Jack had brought Autumn to surprise him, David prepared himself for another explanation.

"Jack?" Autumn questioned. "What's going on here?"

Sighing, Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "Dave… I'm really sorry…" Jack knew he had to tell them all the truth, despite the consequences.

"Autumn… well, ya see, David is da one dat really likes ya. I was just tryin' ta help him talk to you, but when we met at da restaurant later and ya got talkin' ta me, I realized I liked you, and it seemed like you liked me too…"

"I can't believe you went behind my back," David frowned. "What kinda best friend are you?" His fingers balled into fists, David looked down at his boots, which were now swimming in a shallow puddle of his spilled water.

"Dave, I'm real sorry, I don't know what came over me. Really, I didn't mean ta do this… I thought…" he sighed. "I dunno what I thought…"

Autumn bit her lip, feeling extremely uneasy with the situation. "So, instead of tellin' me dat David was da one dat liked me, you asked me out for dinner. Nice…" she sighed. "I think I'm gonna let you two have a little talk. Jack, it wasn't nice to meet you. David, you know where I work. Goodnight gentleman."

Autumn shook her head. "How do ya like dat," she mumbled to herself as she closed the restaurant door behind her. "Been single for so long, dat when da time comes around for me ta have a boy, I get two instead." Sighing, Autumn started her journey home.

~~~~

Spot walked the docks up and down, his cane in hand. Betrayal, boys, is one of the most lethal options any of you can choose. He stared into the Brooklyn boys' eyes, daring them to blink. If you betray me, wish for a quick death, or never show your face in Brooklyn again.

The art of betrayal was one of the first things Spot taught his boys. It was a defining factor in the leader's life, and strangely enough, he educated them in the consequences of such an act, but he never sat down and realized the hypocrisy of his ways. Spot blocked out his own betrayals when it came to women, as to him, ignorance of his affairs really did seem like bliss – that was, until the night Spot witnessed his own betrayal in Fade's eyes…